DONIPHAN, Mo. -- Federal aviation officials are back on the scene today in Ripley County where a single-engine plane imbedded itself in a garage after apparently running out of fuel and making an emergency landing in a field.
The pilot, a Cape Girardeau, Mo., man in his 30s, reported to Federal Aviation Association officials, he had been in Texas earlier in the day and was en route to the Doniphan airport, explained Ripley County Sheriff Mike Barton.
"My understanding is he was coming here to visit his grandpa, the city of Doniphan's mayor, Terry Cooper," said Barton.
The sheriff said it was his understanding the pilot was an experienced one, who had "flew in this area before."
The pilot, according to Barton, apparently thought he had enough fuel to reach the airport Thursday night.
"He had it calculated and was just 3.5 air miles too short," Barton said. "He actually contacted the (Poplar Bluff) airport by radio. He was able to give his coordinates and general location.
"Then, that's when he radioed he was losing power, and that he was going down, and he was not going to make it to the airport."
Airport officials contacted the Missouri State Highway Patrol's Troop E headquarters, Barton said.
Troopers and Ripley County deputies, as well as members of the Doniphan police and fire departments responded and began searching all the roads and fields in that direction, Barton said.
According to Barton, it was "right at" 8:10 p.m. Thursday when the pilot radioed in.
"It wasn't dark yet, so he could still see ... the engine never cut off; he just kept losing power," Barton said. "He was able to spot an open field and touched down.
"Naturally, being grass, he had the brakes completely locked up. It just was not enough space. He couldn't get stopped in time before he made impact with the garage."
Barton said the unattached, two-car garage was located about 50 yards behind the residence.
The home's occupants, he said, heard the noise from the impact and went outside to investigate.
The nose and engine of the plane, believed to be a Cessna 182, were imbedded inside the garage, Barton said.
"The wings make contact and stopped (the plane) from going into the building," said Barton, who indicated the seat-belted pilot was able to get out the plane's door. The pilot, he said, was not injured.
Authorities, Barton said, were on the scene within minutes.
"As soon as we were dispatched, we headed to that general area" based on the pilot's coordinates, Barton explained. "We were already within minutes of locating him when the homeowner actually called dispatch and gave us their location.
"We were there within a minute ... we were so close in our looking" when the homeowner called.
FAA officials, Barton said, arrived a short time later to conduct their investigation.
Barton said the plane has not been removed from the garage.
"At this point, it is their (the FAA) investigation; we are just here to assist them if they need anything," Barton said.
Ripley County deputies, he said, will remain on the scene while the FAA officials do their investigation.
"They said it could take up to two to three days to do their investigation and to do the removal" of the plane, Barton said.